Overbeck Lecture: Jack Jones on the building of the National Guard Armory

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The 80-Year Struggle to Build the DC National Guard Armory

How the vacant land between East Capitol Street and Independence Avenue west of the Anacostia River became a center of civic and military activity is a history worth telling. Jack Jones, historic preservation specialist at the DC Historic Preservation Office, will do just that at the May 19 Capitol Hill History Lecture. 

The DC National Guard Armory, immediately recognizable as a local landmark, was not always at this location; its location and design was the result of decades of government decision-making. Erected as the first purpose-built armory for the DC National Guard, which still occupies the building, it is perhaps better known as a civic venue. Many Washingtonians have attended events under the barrel-vaulted drill hall – from watching the clowns and elephants at the circus to dancing to the music at inaugural balls. Despite being the only National Guard unit in the country which reports directly to the President with a federal mission to protect the nation’s capital, there was a nearly 80-year struggle over building an armory. The history of the DC National Guard Armory reveals not only government decisions over use and design but also how it ultimately was occupied by the National Guard with a strong community use component. 

Since joining DC’s Historic Preservation Office in the Spring of 2024, Mr. Jones has been assisting in various research projects and section 106 reviews. He currently serves as project reviewer for the Emerald Street Historic District and the Capitol Hill Historic District, the largest historic district in the city. Prior to that, he was preservation manager at Historic Augusta, Inc., a preservation non-profit in Augusta, Georgia, for almost three years. Jack earned his bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in political science from the College of Wooster and has a master’s degree in public administration from Augusta University with a concentration in urban planning and community development.

The Monday, May 19, lecture on the National Guard Armory will be held at Hill Center, Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE beginning at 7:00 pm. Admission is free but a reservation is requested due to limited capacity. Reservations can be made starting May 5.  Seating will begin at 6:30 pm; available seats will be released to others beginning at 6:45 pm. The power point presentation will begin at 7 pm. If you have a reservation and are unable to attend, please notify Hill Center (202-549-4172) so that another person can attend.